Dear Mom,
MMMMMMMM... Them lemon shortbread cookies you sent are real good.
Thank you so much for sending them out. I am still savoring the ginger
pennies too. They have lasted very well in their little zip-lock bag. My
companion Elder Facer really loves them all too,
I think he likes the shortbread more. I am so glad my companion and I
get a long so well. We have been able to do a lot of things together,
including buying food together and sharing everything, even our packages
for the most part, I still safeguard my chocolate though...
I have a bag of guittard left...
I think I am kind of tough to get a long with now and again. I just
like having my way because I think it is the best or I am right. I am
sure Dad remembers that. I specifically remember a number of arguments
with him about how totally certain I was about
something someone said, or how it was supposed to be done. I still do
that, but I never let it get to an argument, I just say yep, you are
probably right and let it go. Look Mom, I am learning! Isn't that great?
But seriously, it is cool to see how we change
and grow. There are many many things that I have decided that I will do
and will not do for the rest of my life in my professional and familial
life. One of my favorite parts about being in this mission is being
able to listen to Elder (Jim) Ritchie, who was
a major part of the Franklin-Covey "how to be a successful person
stuff." I am hardly ever a "listen to this famous/rich person and find
their secrets" guy, but he is something special. He, of course, is a
fabulous, charismatic speaker, with all sorts of engaging
stories and analogies, but they all come back to basic principles of
the gospel. All of the 7 habits of successful people are truly based on
scriptures. One of the things that he has specifically asked us to do is
create a personal constitution. Meaning, to
write out a record of our values and ideal characteristics in an order
of importance, all elaborated and specified to our individual lives. As I
try to do this with what little extra time I have I have been able to
look ahead with the end in mind. I see situations
that may come up and my decisions have already been made because of
what I have chosen to foreordain. It is a great experience to go through
and gauge yourself and decide what truly matters to your future. It is a
lifelong process I think as one continues
to develop and I am excited to continue to develop. It is a cool future
to think about when I know what I want to become. You should do the
same thing, or give it a go at least, if you haven't already tried it or
have one.
In other news, for Christmas I will be receiving countless presents
from all of my family and friends back home. Much, much too much food
from members in the ward along with some presents. Hopefully some
letters from friendly friends, as well as an Ipad
and Iphone from my mission president. It is official, we will be
getting these new devices to "hasten the work" this coming December. I
can think of all kinds of great ways that an Ipad will help us already,
particularly in showing videos to people who don't
have internet connections. I am not sure what an Iphone is going to do
for us other than be convenient; however, I am sure there will be a
manual on how it will help us be more efficient and all sorts of great
stuff. I am not complaining at all, I am all sorts
of excited. Is anything cool like that happening at BYU? Free Ipads for
everyone! It is cool to see the church truly start to adapt and use the
wonderful benefits technology has to offer.
This week I have really been able to see how I am being prepared to
meet people as well as the other way around, but particularly me. There
are a lot of people in this mission who I think are waiting for me to
find and teach them, I, however, have to be
prepared for them and they won't be put in my path if I don't change in
the way I need to. We always hear the miracles of investigators being
prepared, but I think more than half the miracles is ourselves changing
into a person who is ready to bring someone
else into the gospel. I will keep trying to change in the ways I need
to to bring those to the Gospel who are waiting for me.
I love you guys lots! Keep doing great.
Love, as always,
-Elder B
P.S. Still love playing soccer on P'day
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